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Also in 1983, communists backed by Cuba invaded Grenada, where there were over one hundred American medical students.  Reagan immediately sent in our troops and saved the students, bringing them back to the United States safely.  Students were seen on television kissing the  American soil as soon as they got off their planes.

Also in 1983, communists backed by Cuba invaded Grenada, where there were over one hundred American medical students.  Reagan immediately sent in our troops and saved the students, bringing them back to the United States safely.  Students were seen on television kissing the  American soil as soon as they got off their planes.

In 1984, Reagan stood for reelection against Walter Mondale, the former Vice President under Jimmy Carter.  Reagan's mind was stuffed with facts by his advisers in preparation for his first of two debates with Mondale, and Reagan did poorly.  Mondale pulled nearly even in the polls.  For the second and final debate, conservatives demanded that his advisers "let Reagan be Reagan"  Free to be himself, Reagan thoroughly destroyed Mondale in the second debate and even showed a great deal of class in politely accepting the moderators cutting him off in the middle of his closing remarks, due to time restraints.  Reagan then won one of the biggest landslide victories in U.S. history.

In 1984, Reagan stood for reelection against Walter Mondale (who promised to raise taxes during the campaign), the former Vice President under Jimmy Carter.  Reagan's mind was stuffed with facts by his advisers in preparation for his first of two debates with Mondale, and Reagan did poorly.  Mondale pulled nearly even in the polls.  For the second and final debate, conservatives demanded that his advisers "let Reagan be Reagan."  Free to be himself, Reagan thoroughly destroyed Mondale in the second debate and even showed a great deal of class in politely accepting the moderators cutting him off in the middle of his closing remarks, due to time restraints.  Reagan then won one of the biggest landslide victories in U.S. history.

In 1985, Reagan began authorizing the sale of arms to Iran in exchange for its work to free American hostages held captive in the Middle East.  Two years later this would turn into the "Iran-Contra" scandal, as the proceeds of those sales were intended to be sent to anti-communist freedom fighters in Nicaragua (the "Contras").  Congress, which was controlled by Democrats, had passed a law prohibiting funding of the Contras, and saw this as a violation of that law.  Reagan was never charged with any crime, however.  This became known as the "arms for hostages" deal.

In 1985, Reagan began authorizing the sale of arms to Iran in exchange for its work to free American hostages held captive in the Middle East.  Two years later this would turn into the "Iran-Contra" scandal, as the proceeds of those sales were intended to be sent to anti-communist freedom fighters in Nicaragua (the "Contras").  Congress, which was controlled by Democrats, had passed a law prohibiting funding of the Contras, and saw this as a violation of that law.  Reagan was never charged with any crime, however.  This became known as the "arms for hostages" deal.